Kate’s Birthday Challenge: Check your Thyroid!

At your next Doctor’s appointment

I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis autoimmune disease in March 2018, but I realized once I got into learning about this disease, I probably had this disease much much longer. I’ve had so many symptoms for years that would explain hypothyroidism: depression, weight gain, tired, worn down, fatigue, rosacea, brittle nails, hair loss, and just a bunch of other weird symptoms that didn’t have an explanation.

WHY didn’t my doctors catch this?! Answer: they only tested my Thyroid Stimulating Hormone which was in “normal range.”

Hashimoto’s is a slow burn. It takes years and years before your TSH gets out of range. And if it gets bad, then you are barely living. Because mine was normal and I felt HORRIBLE. It is ALL over the internet thousands of women who say that they have symptoms but the doctor says it’s not related to thyroid and “your thyroid is normal.” Same happened to me. One endocrinologist at Vanderbilt (after seeing me for 10 minutes) told me that I was just a tired depressed mother, that my thyroid was fine, and I needed to go back to see my primary care provider. If you know me, you’ll know that she was absolutely wrong. I was hurt and angry and frustrated.

Since then I’ve switched to a functional holistic doctor and I have an amazing nutritionist to take care of me. I treat my disease with a few supplements and the AutoImmune Paleo Diet.

Today is my birthday and instead of making a Facebook fundraising thing, I thought I’d give you a challenge. At your next doctor’s appointment, consider checking your thyroid thoroughly. Assuming your insurance isn’t the absolute worst, these are all standard tests and shouldn’t charge you extra. Getting my thyroid tested costs me $10.

Here are the tests you need to ask for.

1 in 8 women have hypothyroidism. 97% of all hypothyroidism is caused by the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s. I’ve seen it estimated that over 50% of all cases go undiagnosed. We get prescribed antidepressants and drink a lot of coffee to mask these symptoms.

Click this link for way more in depth explanation of testing. OR this one.

If you are diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, BREATHE. There are TONS of resources to help you heal your body. Here are some of my favorite resources to get you started. They have been a huge gift from God to me.

The Paleo Mom Dr. Sarah Ballantyne is simply wonderful and has so many recipes and scientific research. Her podcast is simply wonderful. She manages her Hashimoto’s through diet and lifestyle. Please read her story it’s incredible.

Rooted In Healing Whitney Shook is my nutritionist and I can’t recommend enough working with her. I’ve never ever had someone so involved and cared so much about my health. She’s my advocate, cheerleader and I adore her. She has great resources on her instagram and her blog too.

Autoimmune Wellness is a thriving community for how to holistically treat your disease. I LOVE them. Buy their books seriously. Soooo helpful to me.

The Thyroid Pharmacist Dr. Izabella Wentz has such good articles to learn all about Hashimoto’s. She’s wonderful.

There’s no way for me to talk all about Hashimoto’s in one post, and I plan to soon share my story with the disease. But for now, for my birthday I want you to consider to get tested. My hope is that no one will ever have to go so long without a diagnosis like I did. And that your body won’t hit absolute rock bottom like mine did.

Kate